Florenzi backs Gasperini appointment, targets fourth place for Roma

Radio Roma analysts have begun parsing Gasperini's tactical options ahead of Roma's Champions League fixture this evening against Fenerbahçe, with particular focus on midfield deployment and squad rotation. Gianluca Piacentini predicted that De Roon could start alongside a higher-positioned Cristante, describing it as a potential tactical surprise. He said: "The extra midfielder could be the surprise: I'm thinking of De Roon as a starter, with Cristante higher up. This year's choice is technical, tactical, not medical—that's the nuance I like most." Roberto Pruzzo, the Roma legend, backed the squad's depth but flagged a concern in midfield: "I expect Roma in good health, though playing packed fixtures can be draining. The squad looks strengthened overall—Castro fits perfectly, the defence has solutions—but in midfield I don't think you have the right replacements to rest Cristante and Koné." However, he remained optimistic: "I think Roma has the quality to compete well tonight." Nando Orsi assessed Fenerbahçe's threat directly. He said: "The Roma formation, I see stronger than Fenerbahçe and I see winning, but it will be hard-fought. If you look at Fenerbahçe's lineup, these are players who could play for important European teams: Skriniar, Kanté, Greenwood. The squad remains formidable and the environment—we all know it. Difficult match. Roma is doing important things in the league and everyone expects them to win 2 or 3-0, but it's not like that." Paolo Cosenza emphasized the home-away imbalance: "This match played in Turkey has a difficulty factor of 3, whereas in Rome it would have been 1." Lorenzo Pes noted that starting well was crucial to avoiding an early deficit: "Roma often had to chase in European competitions, start poorly and then think they need to take points against PSG or Real Madrid—that can be very complicated. That's why tonight's match has its importance." Squad availability remained fluid. Pes indicated that the Soulé-Mora competition was "wide open, we're at 51–49 per cent, and it will only be settled this morning." Francesca Ferrazza drew attention to Balerdi's recent performance against Atalanta: "I'd keep an eye on Balerdi in place of N'Dicka: he convinced me for his experience, for how he came on the other evening against Atalanta, and he knows Greenwood." Valentina Catoni raised concerns about Dybala's shooting: "Dybala lately shoots far less at goal, and when he has he's also missed two goals that with that foot he rarely gets wrong. It seems he seeks the finish less, perhaps from fear of hurting himself kicking with power at full extension. It seems he's missing that last step." Analyst Andrea Pugliese highlighted Dybala's importance to the attack: "The extra man can be Dybala; if he switches on, he changes the quality, creates endless passing lines." Fabio Petruzzi identified a pattern across the competition's opening matches: "Looking at Champions League results, there's a fact I don't like at all: so far there hasn't been a draw. All wins. For the table and for Roma it would have been better with a few more draws." David Rossi criticized two prominent managers but offered no prediction specific to tonight: he called Allegri and Mourinho "dinosaurs of football" whose era must end.

Rome's radio stations offered their assessments on 10 September 2026 ahead of Roma's UEFA Champions League return after seven years, with the club facing Fenerbahçe at the Stadio Olimpico in what commentators described as a crucial fixture. The match will be played before an expected sold-out crowd. Multiple analysts highlighted Paulo Dybala's physical condition as central to Roma's chances, with Ugo Trani noting: "If he's well he plays, if there's doubt he doesn't." Francesco Balzani stressed that Dybala had been decisive in Roma's previous match against Atalanta and questioned why Gasperini would drop him if fit. The availability of Matías Soulé remained uncertain, with Lorenzo Pes estimating the Soulé-versus-Mora decision at "51–49%" and noting Gasperini typically makes tactical changes around the 30 or 40-minute mark. Andrea Pugliese described the mood around the club as positive: "The feelings ahead of the Champions League debut are good, there's important underlying enthusiasm. During the training session yesterday the group seemed very concentrated. The stadium will be scorching, a sold-out crowd is expected." Pugliese characterised the contest as "a good test," echoing Gasperini's own language, and said: "When Dybala lights up his fantasy Roma can be truly dangerous; when you have that quality there it's another thing and the ability to be immediately threatening even with Malen is much higher." Nando Orsi noted Roma's return to European football's elite competition after such a long absence, saying: "There's emotion for Roma's return to the Champions League after 7 years." Roberto Pruzzo, a Roma legend, cautioned that intense fixture scheduling could affect performance and questioned whether the midfielder options matched the club's ambitions, though he praised the defensive rotation: "Castro can be there perfectly and they've shown they can rotate well at the back. In midfield the impression is that there aren't the changes that would be needed. You have to involve the strongest players like Dybala." Several commentators offered tactical predictions, with both Pes and Orsi forecasting a 1–1 draw, while Pugliese also predicted 1–1 and Pruzzo suggested a 1–2 Roma victory if Santiago Castro entered the match. Stefano Agresti expressed a broader hope that Roma and Como would buck the trend of poor results by Italian clubs in the Champions League this season.

Roma analysts and opinion makers reflected on the squad during radio appearances on 10 September. Claudia Bighi at Radio Romanista praised Mario Hermoso's concentration, saying: "Hermoso is very serious, he never laughed during the press conference, he is always focused." Alessandro Santoro at Radio Manà Manà called for more game time for Rodrigo Mora, noting that he has followed Gasperini's instructions well and performed effectively in his 20 minutes as a substitute against Lecce. Santoro also highlighted Matías Soulé as a potential key resource for the season. A contributor to Radio Manà Manà expressed concern about Soulé's confidence if he does not start, comparing his potential to Muriel's impact as a substitute scorer. The pundit suggested that Gasperini could develop Soulé into a player who "enters and scores important goals," while Mora was described as "pure talent" despite the competition for minutes.